According to DatingAdvice.com, Nashville is North America’s #1 “Most Romantic City” in 2019. Who knew? Whether or not this Valentine’s Day will bring you chocolate and roses, we recommend everyone learn to practice the invaluable skill of self-love!

What Is Self-Love?

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary describes self-love as, “regard for one’s own well-being and happiness.” Oscar Wilde wrote, “To love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance.” In short, self-love is living a life that prioritizes your own health and happiness! And what better time of the year to start living such a life than Valentine’s Day?

#1 Toss What’s Holding You Back

As we come off the start of the new year (and find ourselves in awe of Tidying Up with Marie Kondo on Netflix), it’s a great time to clean out closets and get rid of those things that don’t bring us joy. The ability to take a dress off the hanger without having to squeeze everything else to the side is a wonderful feeling! Negative space can be more life-giving than the junk that fills it!

#2 Add One Healthy Habit a Week

We all have opportunities for improving our health. And when we’re healthier, we’re happier. Are you one of the three million Americans who have acid reflux? Try one of these six habits for managing your symptoms. Do you hate exercise, but love nature? Then instead of trying to force yourself to get on the treadmill, try one of these four hikes in Nashville. In short, listen to yourself. Pay attention to how you feel. If there are areas of your physical or mental health where you think you could feel better, then do a little research and find ways to make improvements. The St. Thomas Medical Group Blog is a great place to look for ideas!

#3 Turn Off the Devices

Multiple studies have indicated an inverse relationship between happiness and social media use. And while there’s certainly a time and place for vegging out in front of the TV, watching three hours of Hulu night after night after night isn’t exactly a key to happiness. Start small with this lifestyle change. At first, take just an hour to totally unplug. Read a book. Sit in a coffeeshop. See a friend. Try a new recipe. Reflect on how the experience makes you feel, and then try something new the next day! Maybe you’ll even work your way up to a totally unplugged Sunday!

#4 Get Screened for Breast Cancer

If you are a woman age 40 or over, getting a screening mammogram may be one of the best acts of self-love you can do. Sadly, women in the United States have a one in eight lifetime risk of developing breast cancer. However, the good news is that women with stage 0 or stage I breast cancer have a 5-year relative survival rate close to 100%. Get screened so that if you need care, you can get it early on! Learn more.

#5 See Your Healthcare Provider

We all get sick from time to time. And when we do, isn’t it so much nicer to be able to see a doctor that knows you? Wouldn’t you prefer to have access to an integrated health care team that has some knowledge of your baseline health? Visiting a provider now for an annual wellness exam can be the start of a wonderful relationship – especially if you really need a doctor in the months or years that follow! Schedule your appointment online.

Practice Self-Love… And Schedule an Appointment With a Doctor In Nashville!

Find a provider at St. Thomas Medical Group by calling +1 (615) 297-2700. Both new and returning patients can also schedule online.

According to Miracle-Ear, one in six baby boomers (born 1946-1964) experience hearing loss. Yet only one in four of those baby boomers proactively seek help for their hearing loss.

Why do so few adults with hearing loss see their doctor about resolving this problem?

For one, the issue may be hard to acknowledge. Hearing loss can take place gradually over many years. Your ability to follow a conversation may diminish. You may begin asking others to repeat themselves more frequently. At first you don’t even think about it. Then you notice that these instances are happening increasingly often in loud environments. Perhaps you start to avoid crowded restaurants or other places where it’s difficult to hear.

There are many warning signs of hearing loss, but it may take many months or even years before people can identify those warning signs in their own selves.

Another reason why so many adults aren’t seeking out the help they need for hearing loss?

Well, let’s face it… hearing aids have a stigma for being… bulky… obvious… a sign of “old age.” The truth is, you probably talk to other people wearing hearing aids every day and don’t even realize it. And with the high decibel machines and environments we’re all exposed to on a regular basis, more people are needing hearing aids at a younger age.

The old stigma is no longer true. Today’s hearing aids aren’t your mother’s hearing aids! They’re barely noticeable – sometimes all but invisible – and high tech.

Advanced Technology, Slim Profiles

Audiologists at St. Thomas Medical Group prescribe Nashville patients with six different styles of hearing aids from brands like Phonak, Resound, Widex, Unitron, Siemens, and Starkey. Styles include:

• • Power Behind the Ear
  • Micro Behind the Ear
  • Full Shell in the Ear
  • In the Canal
  • Completely in the Canal
  • Invisible in the Canal

(See images of these styles.)

Many of these styles, such as “completely in the canal” hearing aids, are all but impossible for anyone to even detect. However, the best hearing aid isn’t necessarily the most discreet. The best hearing aid is the one that helps you boost both volume and your self-confidence!

What’s Stopping You from Exploring Your Options?

Wouldn’t you like to…

• • Enjoy following the conversation in a restaurant?
  • Listen to the television at a volume that agrees with others?
  • Hear the voices of children or grandchildren more clearly?
  • Not have to rely on closed captions?

Schedule an appointment with Nashville ENT Audiology by calling +1 (615) 292-5191. This is a risk-free appointment to learn about the absolute best technology in the hearing industry from highly educated and experienced audiologists in Nashville. What’s stopping you? Call today!

Whether you’re new to Nashville or new to being a parent, finding the right pediatrician for your child can feel like a daunting task. In this post, our team at St. Thomas Medical Group hopes to make the process easier for you! Browse through some of the suggested questions below to jumpstart some thoughts about what you prioritize in your child’s healthcare.

Selecting a Pediatrician in Nashville

Do any of these questions spark some thoughts?

1. Do you have any specialized training?
2. How long have you practiced medicine?
3. What hospital(s) do you work with?
4. Do you offer same-day visits? At St. Thomas Medical Group, we do our best to provide same-day acute care visits Monday through Saturday with extended weekend hours.
5. What tests are done in-office? Will I have to take my child to a separate facility for certain tests?
6. What are your views on sleep training or circumcision? If you have questions about specific, sometimes controversial, health-related issues, it’s okay to ask the pediatrician directly for his or her opinion. Your child’s pediatrician is a partner in health, after all!
7. Can we contact you if we have an urgent need or a routine question?
8. Do you provide input on issues outside of my child’s physical health, such as social behavior and psychological development?
9. How long will we have to wait to get an appointment?
10. How long does a typical wellness exam take?
11. What is your opinion on prescribing antibiotics?

These are just a few questions to help you start thinking about what’s important to you as a new parent. In meeting with a pediatrician, nothing is off the table. After all, this is your child’s health we’re talking about!

If you already have children, feel free to bring them with you to the interview. Also, make sure to bring pen and paper so you can take notes on the answers!

Are you a new parent? If so, read our brief New Parent guide.

Find a Pediatrician in Nashville Today

Find a pediatrician near you at St. Thomas Medical Group Department of Children and Adults. Walk-ins are available on Saturday for established patients with acute medical concerns. (Learn more.) To schedule an appointment, call +1 (615) 301-7040 or schedule online.

With more than 30 million adults living with diabetes in the U.S., we all know someone who’s developed this illness. In fact, diabetes has become increasingly common over the last 20 years. During this time period, diagnoses have tripled in the U.S.

According to the American Diabetes Association, nearly 15% of the adult population in Tennessee has diabetes, while 35.8% has prediabetes.

What Is Diabetes?

But what exactly is diabetes? In short, it’s a chronic disease that compromises your body’s ability to process food into energy. There are three types: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes, which can occur among pregnant women.

In this post, we’re going to focus on type 2 diabetes, which accounts for 90-95% of cases in the U.S. In patients with type 2 diabetes, the insulin hormone, which plays a critical role in turning blood sugar into energy, can’t keep up. In most cases, the pancreas will not produce enough insulin to meet the demand of the glucose level. This can lead to other major health problems, such as kidney disease and heart disease.

The 8 Warning Signs of Diabetes

Approximately one in four people with diabetes don’t know they have the disease. This is just one reason why it’s so important to recognize the early warning signs that type 2 diabetes presents. Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that over a third of all adults in the U.S. have prediabetes (and 90% don’t know it).

So, what are the warning signs?

1. Increased thirst
2. Fatigue
3. Dry mouth
4. Increased hunger
5. Headaches
6. Blurred vision
7. Unexplained weight loss (despite eating as usual)
8. Frequent urination (or urinary tract infections)

Should You Get Tested for Diabetes?

If you experience any of the symptoms discussed above, see your primary care physician or an internal medicine doctor in Nashville for an evaluation. These symptoms, on their own, do not necessarily indicate the presence of diabetes. However, it is important to get checked out if you’re experiencing symptoms such as fatigue and blurred vision.

If your provider deems it necessary, you may get tested with a simple blood sugar test. There are several blood tests that are easily performed in office; results are often available quickly.

See an Internal Medicine Doctor In Nashville

Need help managing your diabetes? Looking for a physician who will partner with you for better health? Meet the internal medicine providers at St. Thomas Medical Group. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call +1 (615) 297-2700
. You can also request an appointment online.

The temperature has dropped and that crisp autumn breeze has blown into Nashville. As the days grow shorter and the nights get colder, many Nashvillians will light up the fire pit! Whether you’re going camping at Fall Creek Falls or just enjoying a warm fire in your own backyard, be sure to follow these guidelines for your own health and safety!

Health & Safety Guide for Campfires & Bonfires

• Check the county’s policy on fires and burn bans before making a fire.
• Never use gasoline or any flammable that is not exclusively intended for fire-starting purposes.
• Build your fire away from fences, trees, and overhead items (string lights, telephone wires, etc.).
• Only burn dry material, as damp wood causes excess smoke.
• As a general rule, a fire should be distanced at least 5x its height from the nearest structure. For example, a fire burning four-feet tall should be at least 20 feet away from your home.
• Always keep a bucket of water or a hose nearby in case the flames get out of control.
• Never leave a fire unattended.
• Closely supervise children around a fire.
• Anything that goes into the fire stays in the fire.
• Store extra wood upwind of the fire.

First Aid for Burns

Accidents happen. If a burn does occur, follow this first aid guide.

Option #1 – At-Home Care. Many first-degree burns can be treated at home with basic first aid practices. Follow these steps.

1. Stop the burning.
2. Remove any clothing or jewelry in the area.
3. Cool the burn by running cool (not cold) water over the skin until pain diminishes.
4. Protect the burn with a sterile, non-adhesive cloth or bandage.
5. Use over-the-counter pain relievers.

See your Nashville doctor at St. Thomas Medical Group if pain and redness lasts several hours or more, if the burn produces a large burn blister, or if you notice any signs of infection (such as swelling, oozing, fever, worsening pain).

Option #2 – Call 911. Certain types of burns require emergency care. This includes burns that…

• Sear through multiple layers of skin.
• Are on the hands, feet, face or genitals.
• Cause leathery, charred, white, black, or brown marks on the skin.

Always call 911 if the burn victim is an infant or senior.

St. Thomas Medical Group: Partners In Your Health

At St. Thomas Medical Group, primary care physicians partner with patients throughout Nashville with a common goal: better health. To learn more about how you can better care for yourself and your family, schedule an appointment with a primary care doctor at St. Thomas Medical Group. You can schedule online or by calling +1 (615) 297-2700.